Iran

Iran is an Islamic republic on the Persian (Arabian) Gulf with historical sites dating to the Persian Empire. Comprising a land area of 1,648,195 km2 (636,372 sq mi), it is the second-largest country in the Middle East and the 18th-largest in the world. It is heir to one of the world's oldest civilizations, beginning with the formation of the Proto-Elamite and Elamite kingdoms in 3200–2800 BC.